Bali volcano eruption UPDATE: TOXIC sulphur dioxide leak threatens flights and health
MOUNT Agung has been slowly leaking high concentrations of toxic sulphur dioxide over Bali, sparking fears for the safety of the island.
Bali residents evacuate following Mount Agung eruption
Nasa’s atmosphere measuring Aura satellite has picked up worrying concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2) spreading from the crater of the Bali volcano.
The pungent colourless gas is particularly dangerous to people with existing breathing conditions, but also irritates the skin, eyes, nose, throat and potentially aircraft.
The NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service warned: “Data from Nasa's Aura satellite shows the high sulfur dioxide concentrations associated with the volcanic eruption of Mount Agung in eastern Bali, Indonesia, on Monday, November 27, 2017.
“Prior to and during eruptions, volcanoes like Mount Agung release large amounts of SO2 into the atmosphere, which can act as an early warning.
“After being released, SO2 can be transformed into tiny sulfate aerosol particles, where they can alter the brightness of clouds and affect regional precipitation patterns.”
Bali’s residents have been living in fear of an “imminent” magmatic eruption since Agung spewed a thick, black column of volcanic ash on Saturday.
The Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), ordered a mass evacuation of locals living within an eight to 10km radius of the volatile volcano.
The threat of sulphur dioxide has now heightened the sense of urgency as 100,000 people have been told to flee to safety.
Nasa’s data suggests that the highest concentrations of SO2 are round the erupting volcano, but individual pockets of the gas have floated toward Java island.
According to Dr Helen Thomas, a senior research associate at Bristol University’s School of Earth Sciences, the exact risk depends on how high or low the SO2 reaches.
The sulphur dioxide through activation with water in atmosphere could speed up the erosion of certain parts of the aircraft
She told Express.co.uk: “The potential effects sulphur dioxide can have on the local population will all depend on the altitudes they reach and the immediate vicinity of the locals.
“Exposure to sulphur dioxide will most likely exacerbate existing conditions such as breathing problems like asthma.
“In very high concentrations it can be more dangerous, but the two Dobson units around Mount Agung are not the highest ever.”
But the volcanologist warned that SO2 in the atmosphere could still pose a risk to flights passing through the gas.
READ MORE: WHERE IS MOUNT AGUNG?
When SO2 mixes with water particles in the atmosphere, it activates into dangerous stratospheric sulfur aerosols.
These are known to create holes in the ozone layer and Dr Thomas said that they could be damaging to aircraft.
She said: “There is a risk it could be hazardous to aircraft, but those effects are not as well known yet.
“There are two possible effects. Firstly, the sulphur dioxide through activation with water in atmosphere could speed up the erosion of certain parts of the aircraft.
“Volcanic ash is still the most dangerous because it can stop an airplanes engine.
READ MORE: BALI VOLCANO ASH CLOUD MAPS
“Secondly it could affect the quality of the air for the passengers inside the plane’s cabin.”
All flights to and from Bali have been suspended, with around 443 flight cancellations and 2,000 stranded travellers at Ngurah Rai International Airport.
A code red aviation notice is in place and Indonesia’s Transport Ministry warned in a statement that aircraft channels were covered in volcanic ash.
If Mount Agung erupts for the first time in 54 years, the conditions will only get worse before they get better.
But strong winds drifting through the region could be enough to scatter the SO2 through the air.
Dr Thomas said: “The sulphur dioxide will most likely disperse through winds, but depending on how high it is, it can stay in the atmosphere for a long time.
“If the eruption goes any larger, the sulphur dioxide emissions could also have climatic effect.
“But from what I’m seeing, the climatic effects of this eruption will be small.”
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